In 1880s Salford, England, widower Henry Hobson, owner and operator of Hobson's Boots, lives with his three adult daughters Maggie, Alice, and Vicky in a flat attached to the shop. Henry is miserly, dipsomaniacal, and tyrannical, not allowing his daughters to date since their sole purpose in life is to serve him and the shop--for no wages. He changes his mind about Alice and Vicky, for whom he will choose husbands although they've also chosen the men they'd marry if they coul... (Full plot summary below)
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In 1880s Salford, England, widower Henry Hobson, owner and operator of Hobson's Boots, lives with his three adult daughters Maggie, Alice, and Vicky in a flat attached to the shop. Henry is miserly, dipsomaniacal, and tyrannical, not allowing his daughters to date since their sole purpose in life is to serve him and the shop--for no wages. He changes his mind about Alice and Vicky, for whom he will choose husbands although they've also chosen the men they'd marry if they could. However, Henry won't provide them with dowries, which might be a challenge in finding them men he would consider suitable husbands. He considers Maggie far too useful to him as the overly-efficient, organized one, so doesn't intend to let her go--besides, at age 30, she's too old for any man to want anyway. Incensed by her father's attitude, Maggie decides to show him how wrong he is about her being an unmarriageable spinster by proposing to timid Willie Mossop, the shop's poor, uneducated, illiterate boot hand--yet best bootmaker, apparently better than any bootmaker in nearby Manchester--who has known no other professional life than the shop. They enter into a marriage of convenience. Despite the differences in their social classes, Maggie believes she can show her father that she can find a husband while also forcing him to treat Willie better (and by association her) in paying him decent wages, otherwise she will use her wifely influence to convince Willie to take his and her valuable services elsewhere. If their hands are forced, Maggie believes their best weapon is wealthy, particular Mrs. Hepworth, who said that only Willie shall ever make her boots. Maggie has even taken into consideration what effect her actions will have on her sisters' nuptials, vowing to them that all will be all right in that regard. Although she truly has no idea how her father will react, she hasn't considered Willie, who might already have his own life outside the shop. If he does agree, what effect will her plan have on him and his entire being?
Leave your thoughts about Hobson's Choice.
| VarietyVariety StaffAlthough Laughton richly overplays every major scene, his performance remains one of the film's highlights. |
| Slant MagazineJeremiah KippLean's splendid frames specifically work to show the high and low status of a social grid. |
| Q Network Film DeskJames Kendrickmakes everything old seem brilliantly and often hilariously new |
| Seanax.comSean AxmakerHobson's Choice is a crisply directed comedy of lively and quirky characters in a vivid world of social snobbery and working-class life... |
| Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)Ken HankeSo much of what makes Hobson's Choice work, however, is Lean's filmmaking craftsmanship. I do not believe there's a single throwaway shot in the film.. |
| Combustible CelluloidJeffrey M. AndersonThough Lean's direction is indeed too heavy and careful to give way to much laughter, he has a secret weapon here: Charles Laughton. |
| Monthly Film BulletinMFB CriticsHobson's Choice is unmistakably the work of a craftsman; but an over-elaborate pursuit of effects, alien to the tone of the play, cannot but over-weight the material. |
| User ReviewJane MFantastic film, particularly the change in John Mill's character after his wedding night. So sweet! |
| User ReviewJonathan SA superb cast (Laughton, Mills, De Banzie) and a charming script. This David Lean romantic comedy is technically beautiful and wonderfully enjoyable. |
| User ReviewTina TAbsolutely fantastic feel good film , sterling performances and another British classic. |
